Amalgamator



(N0 Model.)

AMALGAMATORI Patented A 2 Sheets-Sheet l.

(N5 Model.) zsneets-sneetz.

J. S. JOHNSON, AMALGAMATOR.

No. 503,765; Patented Aug. 22, 1893.

UNTTED STATES PATENT OFFICEo JOSEPH S. JOHNSON, OF SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA.

AIVIALGAMATOR.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 503,765, dated August 22, 1893.

Application tiled April I7, 1893. Serial No. 470,725. (No model.)

To a/ZZ whom, it may concern:

Beit known that I, JOSEPH S. JOHNSON, a

It consists in certain details of construe' tion which will be more fully explained by reference to the accompanying drawings, in which- Figure l is a longitudinal, vertical section. Fig. 2 is a top view of the same. Fig. 3 is a transverse vertical section.

The object of myinVent-ion is to provide an apparatus by which' heavy material may be separated from lighter ganguerwith which it is mixed, and by which any valuable or precious metal which may be contained inthe material may be amalgamated orsaved.

A and B are two rollers or drums havinga proportion of about four feet in length, the upper one A being about two feet in diameter and the drum B about one foot. These are journaled in a frame-Work C which is supported upon arms D, or suspended so that this frame-Work and the drums carried by it may be given a horizontal shaking motion by means of a cam E, or other suitable equivalent device.

Around the drums A and B passes a belt F which may be ot' rubber, canvas, or other suitable material, and the rollers are so journaled with relation to each other that the lower sides of the rollers are approximately level, and the upper side of the head roller is higher than that of the roller B by reason of its greater diameter. This produces an inclination of the upper part of the belt, and the drums are rotated by any suitable connecting mechanism, not here shown, so that the belt travels constantly up the incline, the angle of which maybe adjusted to suit the sand or pulp to be worked. Transversely across this belt are fixed plates O having silvered or amalgamated surfaces. These plates are a little shorter than the full width of the belt and are attached by one edge only, that edge being the one toward theline of travel. Each plate may beV about four or five inches in width, and they overlap each other like the clapboards of a house. The surfaces of these plates being amalgamated, as before described, enables them to catch and retain any quicksilver or gold, or other valuable metal which maybe contained in the material which is delivered upon the belt from a head box G which is situated near the upper end of the belt.

H is a nozzle so constructed asto discharge a sheet of water upon the upper end of the belt, the Water flowing down toward the lower end and mingling with the material which is delivered from the head box, as it flows.

The side shaking motion of the belt distributes the material, the heavier parts settling to the bottom, and the lighter owing off gradually over the top, and being eventually discharged lover `the drum at the lower end of the machine.

'In order to keept the surfaces of the plates bright and clean, and to cause a proper contact of all the material with these plates, I employ brushes I which are suitably fixed above the upper surface of the moving belt and plates, so that the ends of the brushes are in contact with the surface as it moves. The sand Or pulp is delivered upon the plates above the point where the brushes are located, and the pulp then tlows beneath the brushes.

The upward travel of the belt and the side shaking motion cause the brushes to constantly rub the plates, thus preventing them from becoming oxidized and keeping the mercury bright and well distributed, so that it is always in readiness to retain any line particles of metal which may come in contact with it.

In order to keep the plates approximately.

IOO

IOA

while the belt is passing along the straight portion between the drums, this upturned ange serves to retain the material upon the belt and prevent its flowing off to either side. When the belt bends to pass around the rollers, these upturned flanges turn inwardly as y shown in cross section, and slightly overlapping the ends of the plates, they retain them in contact with the belt and the roller while passing around the drums. After the whereby a side shaking motion is imparted to said frame, an endless traveling belt passing around the drums having the upper surface inclined, metallic overlapping plates attached to the belt by one edge, means for supplying pulp and Water upon the upper end iof the belt, and brushes secured above the belt so that the ends form a contact with the plates as they pass beneath the brushes and a washing tank situated beneath the belt, substantially as herein described.

f3. An apparatus .consisting-of horizontally journaled drums mounted in a frame, and

-. mechanism whereby a side shaking motion is imparted to the frame and drums, an endless plates have passed around the drum at the upper end and are released by the straight-V ening up of the flanges F', they turn a little' about their hinged edges and incline downwardly into a tank L containing water through which they pass while returning frornthe up- Vper tothe lower drum on the lower side.

Within this tank L is fixed another series of brushes M so that their` upper ends willl form contact with the plates as they pass, and brush olf any free mercury or amalgam which may be upon the plates, also any verdigris, or other material which may adhere, thus leaving them lfree and clean to again receive the pulp and l material when they arrive at the upper part of their travel.

Having thus described my inventiomwhat I claim as new, and desire tosecure by Letters Patent, is-

1. An apparatus consisting of the endless traveling belt, horizontally journaled drums traveling belt passing around'the drums with the upper surface inclined, metallic overlapping plates extending transversely across the belt and attached thereto byone,edge, upturned edges upon each sidel of the belt, inclining inwardly and adaptedgto fold down over the edges of th'e plates by the tension produced-hy passingfaround the drums at the upper and lower ends, whereby the plates are retained in contact with the belt until they have passed around the drum, substantially as herein described.

4. An apparatus consisting of an endless traveling belt passing around drums horizontally `iournaled upon a frame to which a side shaking motion is imparted, metallic plates extending transversely across the belt, overlapping each other, having their upper edges attached to the belt, brushes secured above the belt with their ends in contact with the plates asthe latter pass beneath them, a washing tank into which the belt dips' as it returns on the lower side, and brushes fixed within said tank so yas to brush the surfaces of the plates as they pass through the tank, substantially as herein described. In witness whereof I have hereunto set my hand.

JOSEPH S. JOHNSON.

Witnesses: i

S. H. Nounsn, WM. F. BOOTH. 

